96815 Waikiki, Honolulu Event Guide

Waikiki Events & Happenings: February – August 2025

Waikiki is buzzing with cultural celebrations, surf competitions, fireworks, and lively festivals throughout 2025. From Chinese New Year festivities to the iconic Duke’s OceanFest, there's something for everyone in paradise. Here’s a month-by-month guide to the best events happening in Waikiki!

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🌸 February 2025

📌 Chinese New Year Celebration 🏮🐉

• 📍 International Market Place
• 📅 February 1, 2025 | ⏰ 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
• 🎟️ Free event
• Details: Celebrate the Year of the Snake with lion dances, firecrackers, and live cultural performances.

📌 POW! WOW! Hawai‘i Street Art Festival 🎨🎶

• 📍 Various locations in Honolulu (including Waikiki murals)
• 📅 February 8–15, 2025
• 🎟️ Free event
• Details: A weeklong street art festival featuring live mural paintings, music events, and local artist showcases.

📌 Valentine’s Sunset Dinner Cruise 💕🚢

• 📍 Star of Honolulu, Pier 8
• 📅 February 14, 2025 | ⏰ 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
• 🎟️ Tickets: $149+ per person
• Details: Enjoy a romantic multi-course dinner, live Hawaiian music, and breathtaking sunset views over the Pacific.

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🌺 March 2025

📌 Honolulu Festival & Grand Parade 🎊🌸

• 📍 Waikiki Beach & Kalākaua Ave.
• 📅 March 7–9, 2025
• 🎟️ Free admission
• Details: A celebration of Pacific Rim cultures featuring live performances, an arts and crafts fair, and a massive fireworks show over Waikiki Beach.

📌 Prince Kūhiō Day Celebration 🌿🤙

• 📍 Various locations in Waikiki & Honolulu
• 📅 March 26, 2025
• 🎟️ Free event
• Details: Honors Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana‘ole, known as the "People’s Prince," with parades, hula performances, and cultural events.

📌 St. Patrick’s Day Block Party 🍀🎶

• 📍 Murphy’s Bar & Grill & Kelly O’Neil’s Pub
• 📅 March 17, 2025 | ⏰ 4:00 PM – Midnight
• 🎟️ Free entry
• Details: Waikiki turns green with live Irish music, Guinness on tap, and a lively street party atmosphere.

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🎭 April 2025

📌 Waikiki Spam Jam Festival 🥫🎶

• 📍 Kalākaua Avenue
• 📅 April 26, 2025 | ⏰ 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM
• 🎟️ Free event
• Details: A street festival dedicated to Hawaii’s love for Spam, featuring delicious Spam dishes, live entertainment, and local vendors.

📌 Merrie Monarch Hula Festival Watch Parties 🌺💃

• 📍 Various hotels and venues in Waikiki
• 📅 April 20–26, 2025
• 🎟️ Some events require reservations
• Details: The biggest hula competition in the world takes place on the Big Island, but Waikiki hosts watch parties, live hula shows, and cultural workshops in celebration.

📌 Weekly Waikiki Circle Festivities 🌅🎶

• 📍 Waikiki Beach Walk & Royal Hawaiian Center
• 📅 Every Tuesday & Friday
• 🎟️ Free event
• Details: Enjoy live Hawaiian music, hula performances, and cultural storytelling at these weekly gatherings.

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🌊 May 2025

📌 Lantern Floating Hawai‘i 🏮🌊

• 📍 Ala Moana Beach Park
• 📅 May 26, 2025 (Memorial Day) | ⏰ 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
• 🎟️ Free event
• Details: A breathtaking ceremony where thousands of lanterns are set afloat to honor loved ones.

📌 Lei Day Celebration 🌸🎶

• 📍 Kapi‘olani Park & Waikiki Shell
• 📅 May 1, 2025
• 🎟️ Free event
• Details: Lei-making contests, live Hawaiian music, and hula performances celebrating the art of Hawai‘i’s most iconic floral garland.

📌 Mele Mei Music Festival 🎼🎤

• 📍 Various venues in Waikiki
• 📅 May 2025 (Dates TBD)
• 🎟️ Some events are free, others require tickets
• Details: A monthlong celebration of Hawaiian music, featuring live concerts, ukulele performances, and slack-key guitar showcases.

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☀️ June – August 2025

📌 King Kamehameha Day Floral Parade 🌺🐎

• 📍 Downtown Honolulu to Kapi‘olani Park
• 📅 June 7, 2025 | ⏰ 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• 🎟️ Free event
• Details: A vibrant parade with traditional Hawaiian pa‘u riders, floral floats, and hula performances.

📌 Fourth of July Fireworks at Waikiki Beach 🎆🇺🇸

• 📍 Waikiki Beach
• 📅 July 4, 2025 | ⏰ 8:30 PM
• 🎟️ Free event
• Details: A spectacular fireworks display over the ocean, best viewed from Waikiki Beach.

📌 Duke’s OceanFest 2025 🏄‍♂️🏆

• 📍 Waikiki Beach
• 📅 August 16–24, 2025
• 🎟️ Free for spectators
• Details: A weeklong festival honoring Duke Kahanamoku, featuring surf competitions, canoe races, and beachside entertainment.

📌 Halloween in Waikiki 🎃👻

• 📍 Kalākaua Avenue
• 📅 October 31, 2025
• 🎟️ Free event
• Details: One of the biggest Halloween street parties in the Pacific, with costume contests, live entertainment, and festive nightlife.

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🌴 Experience the Best of Waikiki in 2025!

Whether you’re watching Friday fireworks, celebrating Hawaiian holidays, or enjoying surf competitions, Waikiki is the place to be all year long. Mark your calendar, embrace the aloha spirit, and enjoy paradise! 🌊✨

Sports and Outdoor Activities

**1. Waikiki Golf **

Take a swing at the Ala Wai Golf Course and enjoy one of the most scenic golfing experiences in Hawaii. With stunning views of Diamond Head and the surrounding coastline, this golf course offers both a challenging game and breathtaking beauty. Perfect for both beginners and seasoned golfers, it's a must-visit for anyone looking to enjoy the outdoors in Waikiki.

Upcoming Surf Contests in Hawaii (2025) 🌊🏄‍♂️

Hawaii remains the epicenter of competitive surfing, hosting world-class events that attract top athletes and passionate surf fans. Here’s a look at major surf contests happening in 2025, from the powerful waves of the North Shore to the classic longboarding scene in Waikiki.

📌 Duke’s OceanFest 2025

• 📍 Waikiki Beach
• 📅 August 16–24, 2025
• 🎟️ Free for spectators
• Details: This annual celebration of Duke Kahanamoku’s legacy features a variety of ocean sports, including longboarding, tandem surfing, and adaptive surf contests. Perfect for those who enjoy Waikiki’s classic surf culture and aloha spirit.

📌 The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational (Pending Swell Conditions)

• 📍 Waimea Bay, North Shore
• 📅 Holding Period: January – February 2025
• 🎟️ Free for spectators
• Details: One of the most prestigious big wave contests in the world, The Eddie only runs if waves reach a minimum of 20 feet Hawaiian scale (40 ft+ faces). This invite-only event features the best big-wave surfers on the planet.

📌 Vans Pipe Masters 2025

• 📍 Banzai Pipeline, North Shore
• 📅 December 2025 (Exact Dates TBD)
• 🎟️ Free for spectators
• Details: A premier surf competition where elite surfers take on the heavy, barreling waves of Pipeline. Considered one of the most dangerous and exciting events in the sport.

🌊 Looking for more surf action? Stay tuned for updates on community surf contests, like the Waikiki Menehune Surf Fest (date TBD), which highlights Hawaii’s next generation of surfers.

📅 Mark your calendar for these epic surf events in 2025! 🏄‍♀️🏆

Shopping and New Developments

1. New Target in Waikiki

Waikiki has welcomed a brand-new Target location! Conveniently located on Kuhio Avenue, adjacent to the International Market this Target is a perfect addition for both tourists and locals alike. Stock up on essentials, beach gear, snacks, and more as you explore Waikiki. The new store is especially convenient for visitors staying at nearby hotels, offering everything you need for a comfortable stay in Hawaii.

 

2. Waikiki Market

The newly opened Waikiki Market is another exciting addition to the area, providing fresh local produce, snacks, and unique Hawaiian-made products. It’s a great spot to pick up souvenirs or stock up on picnic supplies for a day at the beach. The market also features a selection of prepared foods, perfect for a quick and delicious meal on the go.

 

Celebrate Waikiki’s Traditions, Festivals & Holidays in 2025

Waikiki is home to some of Hawai‘i’s most cherished celebrations, cultural festivals, and exciting annual events, making it the perfect place to experience the spirit of aloha all year long.

Start the year by welcoming the Year of the Snake with Chinese New Year festivities, featuring lion dances and firecrackers at the International Market Place. In spring, don't miss the Waikiki Spam Jam, a lively street festival dedicated to Hawaii’s favorite canned treat, or join the community in honoring Prince Kūhiō Day (March 26) and King Kamehameha Day (June 11) with parades, hula performances, and cultural tributes.

Summer brings the dazzling Fourth of July fireworks show over Waikiki Beach and Duke’s OceanFest in August, a weeklong celebration of Hawai‘i’s most legendary waterman, Duke Kahanamoku, with surf competitions and ocean sports. As fall approaches, Halloween in Waikiki turns into a massive street party on Kalākaua Avenue, with elaborate costumes, live music, and an electric atmosphere.

Throughout the year, Waikiki continues to shine with weekly Friday night fireworks at Hilton Hawaiian Village, the Waikiki Circle sunset performances, and traditional Makahiki season celebrations in November, marking a time of peace, harvest, and Hawaiian cultural games.

From local traditions and Hawaiian holidays to world-class surf contests and festive nightlife, Waikiki is always buzzing with things to do. Mark your calendar and experience the best of Hawai‘i in 2025! 🌴